Mute for stringed musical instruments



Oct. 10, 1950 E. M; Frrz w'A'rER ETAL MUTE FOR STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Filed May 24, 1949 Fiji 5 JNVENTORS Ezra Mfi/zwafer y Lore/71,7 Sobe/ fw Arrow/5Y5 Patented Oct. 10, 1950 MUTE FOR STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Ezra M. Fitzwater and Loren D. Sobcl, Columbus, Ohio Application May 24, 1949, Serial No. 95,034

4 Claims.

Our invention relates to a mute for stringed musical instruments. It has to do, more particularly, with a device adapted to be attached to stringed musical instruments such asviolins, Violas, cellos, bass-viols and similar musical instruments, so that it can be associated with the bridge of the instrument for muting the instrument.

Many diiferent types of mutes have been associated with stringed instruments in the past. All of these devices with which we are familiar have been carried by a'plurality of the strings of the instrument. They have been so designed that when moved away from'the muting position, in contact with the bridge, they vary the spacing between the strings and, consequently, vary the tautness of the strings and. therefore, affect the pitch of the strings. Prior art designers have not taken into consideration the fact that it is desirable to mute the bass side of the bridge more than the treble side of the bridge so as to provide a balanced tone, consequently, the prior art muting devices have not been designed to function'in this manner. 7

The main object of our invention is to provide a muting device which can be attached to a musical instrument of the stringed type and which will be carried thereby so that it can be associated with the bridge in muting position or easily and quickly moved away from muting position.

Another object of our invention is to provide a muting device of the type indicated which is so mounted on the instrument that when moved away from muting position it will have no effect on the adjustment or tuning of the strings.

Another object of our invention is to provide a muting device which is designed to produce a greater muting effect on the bass side of the bridge than on the treble side thereof.

Still another object of our invention is to provide a muting device which is so designed that it will contact firmly with the bridge when in muting position to produce a most eifective muting action.

Various other objects will be apparent.

The preferred embodiment of our invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts and wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a violin having our muting device associated therewith in muting position.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the muting device removed from the instrument.

2 Figure 3 is a face elevational view of the muting device and illustrating diagrammatically how it will be related to the bridge when in muting position.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 44 of Figure 3 through the muting device.

Figure 5 is a plan view showing how the muting device is associated with the bridge in muting position or can be moved to inoperative posi tion without any effect on the strings. of the instrument.

With reference to the drawing, in Figure 1 we have illustrated a violin I with which our mut ing device 2 may be associated. It is to be understood, however, that our, device may be associated with other types of stringed instruments. The violin includes the usual bridge 3 and the strings E, A, D and G which are anchored to the tail-piece 4. g

The muting device 2 comprises a body 5 which is mainly of segmental form but has a depending tab-like portion 6 intermediate its ends. It will be noted that one end I of the body is wider or of more mass than the other end 8 of the body. It will also be noted that the body is made of laminated structure, as shown best in Figure 4. One of the laminations 9 is of relatively soft rubber while the other II] is of relatively hard rubber, the two laminations being suitably cemented together. The face of the lamination 9 is adapted to contact the bridge and the opposite face of the lamination It! is covered with a covering ll, such as leather. This covering extends over the upper edge of the body, the covering serving to enhance the appearance of the device.

Carried on the upper edge of the body 5 substantially midway between the ends thereof is a spring clip' 12. This clip has an anchoring portion I3 secured to the lamination ll], extending downwardly over the outer face thereof. It has a spring latch portion M which projects beyond the face of the lamination 9 and is adapted to engage the upper edge of the bridge when associated therewith.

In addition, the upper edge of the body 5 carries a guide and suspending bracket l5 which is disposed directly adjacent the spring clip l2 to the right thereof as shown in Figures 2 and 3. This member [5 has depending lugs I6 which straddle the upper end of the body 5 and which are bent into gripping relationship with the faces thereof. A small screw I! may be passed through the member ['5 into the body 5 to firmly secure it thereto. This member I 5 is shaped to provide a string-receiving channel I8 at its upper side. It will be noted that the ends of the channel project beyond the face of the body 5 and are upturned slightly as of 19 so as not to cut the string during movement of the device along the string.

One of the features of our invention is that the muting device 2 is carried by a single string of the instrument. Consequently, when the device is moved between muting and non-muting positions, it has no eifect on the pitch of the strings of the instrument. The member (5 is preferably so located that the muting device will be carried by the A string of the instrument. However, it could be carried by other strings although it is preferably carried by the A or the D strings. In mounting the device on the instrument, the screw I1 is removed and member [5 taken off the mute is placed under the string and the member I5 is placed back and the screw I! is screwed back on the member [5 over the string A. The muting device will be disposed between the bridge 3 and the tail-piece 4. It can be moved as desired between such members.

When in muting position, the device 2 is moved into contact with the bridge 3, the spring portion M of clip l2 snapping over the upper edge of bridge 3. The soft rubber lamination 9 will have its face in snug contact with the adjacent face of the bridge 3. Thus, it will effectively dampen vibrations of the bridge. The heavier portion 1 of the body 5 will be in contact with the'bass side of the bridge while the lighter side 8 will be in contact with the treble side of the bridge. Therefore, the bass side will be muted more than the treble side thereof. To move the device 2 away from muting position, it is merely necessary to swing the spring portion I4 upwardly by engaging the upper end of the clip l2 with the finger. The device 2 may be moved into the position shown by dotted lines in Figure 5 or into any position between bridge 3 and tail-piece 4. In these movements, no effect on the tension in the strings will be produced because the device 2 is carried by a single string.

all)

It will be apparent from the above description and the drawing that we have provided a novel type of muting device having many advantages. Some of these advantages have been discussed and others will be apparent.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is:

1. A muting device for a stringed instrument comprising a fiat body portion one face of which is adapted to contact a face of the bridge of the instrument, a suspending and guide member attached to the upper edge of the body portion for suspending the body from a single string of the instrument, and a spring clip for holding the device in muting relationship with the bridge, said spring clip being carried by the upper edge of the body portion and being adapted to snap over the upper edge of the bridge.

2. A muting device according to claim 1 wherein the face of the body which engages the bridge is of relatively soft rubber.

3. A muting device according to claim 2 wherein this soft rubber is backed by a hard rubber backing to give it rigid support and cause it to contact at all points across the surface of the bridge.

4. A muting device according to claim 3 wherein the body portion is of greater mass at the bass side of the bridge than at the treble side thereof.

EZRA M. FITZWATER. LOREN D. SOBEL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,722,680 Rose July 30, 1929 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 278,973 Great Britain Oct. 20, 1927 

